"Camera/photo bags"

When I saw the thread title, I wanted to recommend Crumpler, but I see you've found them already.

I've got a Crumpler bag for the D70, and it's excellent - very sturdy, very comfortable to carry, and it doesn't scream "camera bag" immediately from the outside. Though apparently, it's common knowledge amongst crooks already that these bags hold expensive gear.

I bought one of those nifty "over the shoulder" pouches for my gear. It's sort of elongated a bit like a snooker cue case but wider, made of canvas and I can fit the digicam, charger, spare memory sticks and mini tripod in there without having a hefty bag to carry around.

Touchwoods (camping shop) sell 'em near here.

Peej

That website puts me off buying their stuff. However good it may be.

Rankin wrote:
That website puts me off buying their stuff. However good it may be.

I've learned long ago to seperate marketing and the actual products, or I'd not own a lot of excellent stuff, and would have bought a lot of crap. :p

Quite - for instance, if you never bought products based on how good or how shit a website was, you'd never own anything Sony...!

Peej

I didn't intend to, but I just bought a refurb crumpler Sports Guy 0.6 for my new Canon Powershot A85. (Yes, that's right a refurb, buggered if I can see owt wrong with it tho'!!!) The brand new ones were going for £25. I got the refurb (eh? wtf?) for £9.90 at Jessops on Deansgate.

rhythm wrote:

Rankin wrote:
That website puts me off buying their stuff. However good it may be.

Really? I liked it.

I can't even see it. Get a 404 soon as I click on the frame.

Well, it's not that people don't know that Lowe or any other obvious camera bag carry expensive gear, as well. It's not a disadvantage of the Crumpler bags, it's just not that big of an advantage anymore I'd say.

And you'll look less like a tourist, especially if you aren't a tourist. ;-)

Sorry for stepping in late to the photo bag party (nudge, nudge). Just wanted to give a good ole shout-out to an alternative to the Crumpler and Lowe bags, which has the advantage (some of them more than others) of not looking like you're carrying anything of particular interest, let alone cost. They're called Domke, allegedly started by a photographer who wanted camera bags which weren't simply padded right but which would also be fast and practical to "use" (get your gear out of /into). I have a black F-803 Camera Satchel which can also double as an everyday bag for your papers and laptop, thanks to its messenger-bag design, and removable pad-thingy. (Though they also have more traditional camera bag designs, like so.)

I'm starting to sound like a salesman, aren't I? Some bad points then: they aren't incredibly sexy, yet almost as expensive as the Crumpler ones. Also, the one I have is not very wide (or what's the word here, I'm thinking of the length from backside to frontside?), but it can hold my DSLR with mounted zoom lens, plus my camcorder, and still has room for more. (105mm macro lens and wide angle zoom, I'm looking at you.)

I bought mine in a camera store in Stockholm, and just figured us Earthlings are globalised enough for that to mean they'll be available everywhere, McDonald's style. I could be wrong. (My guess is they're made in the US.)

And yeah, that brochure could have offered a few more detailed pictures. Found a couple of reviews of the bag I have (the first one has pictures which give you a rough idea): a-one and a-two.

I use a Tamrac Expedition for my SLR and lenses. It's comfortbale but hasn't enough pouches for holding film, I would always have about 10 rolls on me. For my medium format kit I use a Lowe Pro and find it excellent. Apparently it's a camcorder bag but there is lots of room for my Bronica and 120 film. Both of them do look like camera bags though, I often have a Manfrotto tripod with me so I can never hide the value of my kit!

otto wrote:
edit - just ordered the F2 in sand. Gonna look like a proper war correspondent. Next stop safari jacket. ;p

Nice choice all you need now are a brace of Lecia's.

otto wrote:
CHAKA! I owe you one big fat thank you. I just got mine and I must say it's even better than it looked on the brochure, I'm really pleased with it! Personally I love the canvas/retro look and feel, and it's just really practical and spacious without looking as if you're lugging around a missile silo. Nice one! Thanks for the tip. :)

I'm pleased you're pleased!

Rankin wrote:
That website puts me off buying their stuff. However good it may be.

How do you get into the bloody thing? It's infuriating. Oh, and yes, as UL says they're well known for containing expensive gear. Personally I don't like the styling. I currently use a very practical camera bag from John Lewis, but I'm going to have to trade up to something a bit bigger now my lens collection is growing.

Well Crumpler has the advantage of being European as opposed to LowePro. :) And he's right, Lowe bags also give away the fact that you're minted. ;)

I don't see any way around that, to be honest, unless you want to hoik all your kit around in a Co-op bag.

I was quite tempted by the Crumpler bag for my powerbook, but that bloody Fido-Dido character on the front really gets my goat.

I'll probably be picking up a Lowe bag one of these days from my favourite shop (highly recommended but their online shop only sells their own brand stuff - this for example is a most excellent piece of luggage - holds laptop, additional kit, change of clothes, books, can be carried as briefcase, shoulder bag, rucksack, perfect for one- or two-night trips by plane and I also use it for the office when I need to bring in the laptop - all for about 30 quid).

rhythm wrote:
/has no allegiances to Europe and in fact can't wait to get out of the place

Not judging the rest of the continent by one pokey corner of it I hope? ;p

Know what you mean about too many bags. I'm turning into my wife. :|

Exactly!

Incidentally, if you don't like western Europe then you won't like eastern Canada. Just as many wishy-washy pinko liberals here. ;) You'll have to head out west to redneck country.

Hmm. Can't see much from those pics/brochures but it sounds good! Where are they available?

*bump*

Haven't been able to find someone who sells those Domke bags in Canada, but I did notice this British company who makes something similar but dare I say it slightly classier looking: Billingham. They look great but a bit pricey, and the problem with those satchel bags is that they don't fit an awful lot, a body (with no lens attached) and a couple of lenses, not much more.

It's looking as if I'll have to go with Lowepro.

I've finally found a Canadian online shop that sells Domke bags. Any recommendations for which one to get?

edit - just ordered the F2 in sand. Gonna look like a proper war correspondent. Next stop safari jacket. ;p

/strokes paypal

Edited by otto at 14:57:15 19-02-2005

CHAKA! wrote:
Sorry for stepping in late to the photo bag party (nudge, nudge). Just wanted to give a good ole shout-out to an alternative to the Crumpler and Lowe bags, which has the advantage (some of them more than others) of not looking like you're carrying anything of particular interest, let alone cost. They're called Domke, allegedly started by a photographer who wanted camera bags which weren't simply padded right but which would also be fast and practical to "use" (get your gear out of /into). I have a black F-803 Camera Satchel which can also double as an everyday bag for your papers and laptop, thanks to its messenger-bag design, and removable pad-thingy. (Though they also have more traditional camera bag designs, like so.)

I'm starting to sound like a salesman, aren't I? Some bad points then: they aren't incredibly sexy, yet almost as expensive as the Crumpler ones. Also, the one I have is not very wide (or what's the word here, I'm thinking of the length from backside to frontside?), but it can hold my DSLR with mounted zoom lens, plus my camcorder, and still has room for more. (105mm macro lens and wide angle zoom, I'm looking at you.)

CHAKA! I owe you one big fat thank you. I just got mine and I must say it's even better than it looked on the brochure, I'm really pleased with it! Personally I love the canvas/retro look and feel, and it's just really practical and spacious without looking as if you're lugging around a missile silo. Nice one! Thanks for the tip. :)